Dedicated to Keeping​Oregon's Trails Open for All.

Who We Are

The High Desert Trail Riders Back Country Horsemen is dedicated to good horsemanship, good sportsmanship, the promotion of horse trails and trail horse facilities, to provide an active program of recreational riding.​Our active chapter has trail rides, pack trips, work parties, training clinics, and the Horse Packing and Wilderness Skills Clinic, which is the best educational event of its kind on the West Coast. We are involved with the Federal Agencies providing volunteer labor on trails and trail heads and work with them on management issues and regulations regarding equestrian use on Public Lands.

Our Purpose

To perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America’s back country and wilderness.

To work to insure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use.

To assist the various government and private agencies in their maintenance and management of said resource.

To educate, encourage and solicit active participation in the wise use of the back country resource by horsemen and the general public commensurate with our heritage.

To foster and encourage the formation of new state Back Country Horsemen’s organizations.

Dan Applebaker said it best:​“The first two purposes define what our group hopes to accomplish by our existence. The third and fourth purposes give direction in the manner in which we accomplish the first two principles. The fifth purpose is directed at the expansion of BCHO to make it as strong an organization as possible to give us the power to accomplish the first two purposes."